Grading machine



March 11, 1930. I. v D. E. GRAY 1,750,516

GRADING MACHINE Filed April 11.1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 v 81 7.9 3.5 J 9.59 9O ,3

30 I ,;,"-s I 41 0 72 INVENTOR 20 f. fire A ORNEYIS.

' March 11,, 1930. D, E, GR Y 1,750,516

GRADING MACHINE Filed April 11. 1927 s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR r I BY r19 jx onuava March 11, 1930. GRAY 1,750,516

GRADING MACHINE Filed April 11. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mummylullifiimnlmmmuluu HHIIIIHIIIIIIIIHHH \lllllllll llllllll lllllllllllllllllllIIIH HIIIIIIIIIlllllllllllllll mlllllnn INVENTOR ORNEY8.

Patented 11,1930 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DAVID E. GRAY, OICOBNING, NEW YORK,

assrenonro come ems: worms, or

(DINING, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION 01 NEW YORK GRADING MACHINE Applicationfiled April 11,

Y My invention relates to automatic sorting or grading machines whichsort or ade articles according to their respective welghts.

While my invention is possible of applica tion or ready adaptation tothe weighing and sorting of various kinds of articles, I have found itparticularly advantageous for weighing and sorting glass tubes. Inaddition to the general desirability of determining the welght of thesetubes and sorting themaccordingly, such a procedure assumes even greaterimportance as regards these particular articles by virtue of thefactthat in many of the applications and uses of the same some knowledgeof the wall thickness is very desirable. By previously determining thedi- .ameters of tubes of uniform length,'by means fully described in thefollowing specification, and while, in its broader aspect, my inventionis, capable of embodiment in various forms, a. preferred and desirableembodiment thereof is illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, inwhich:

ig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in sectlon, of my improved machine;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the upper part of my machine,taken along the line 2-2 of Fig 3 with the operating parts in adifferent positlon than in ,Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation, on a further en'- larged scale, oftheiconstruction shown 'in Fig. 2, some of the structure being omitted;

Fig. 4 is a detail of a fulcrum shaft suprt Fi g. 5 is'a plan view ofthe maehinewith the parts in the. position shown in .Fig. 2, some of thestructure being omitted Fig. 6 is a detail of one of the gradingmechanisms, and v 1927. Serial I0) 182,896.,

Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same mechanism with the parts in adifferent position.

Referring to the drawings, reference numerals 11 and I2 designate a pairof similarly constructed side standards aflixed in any suitable mannerto'a base block 13. The latter is preferably mounted upon rollers 14,and may be provided, at its corners, with vertically adjustable legs15,adapted to support a the machine in immovable position, independently ofthe rollers.

'Mounted in suitable hearings in the standarils 11, 12, in verticallystaggered relation to each other, as shown in Fig. 1, are horizontalmounting shafts 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, provided with identical interlockinggears 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, respectively, at one side of the machine, forsimultaneous rotation of said shafts. These gears are actuated by asprocket wheel 26, keyed to the lowest shaft 20, and

connected by means of a sprocket'chain 27 v to a suitable electric motor(not shown).

Two additional horizontal shafts 3Q, 31 are mounted for rotation, inbearings provided in projecting ears 28 v(Fig. 1) on the upper parts ofthe standards 11, 12, and above these shafts a cross-beam 29 is alsosecured to the cars 28. I

F ixedly mounted in standards 11, 12 is a series of cross-beams, asindicated at 32, each of which is horizontally aligned with one of' theshafts 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,-as shown-in Fig. 1.

On each of the standards 11. 12 a series of corresponding cars 33 isprovided, each pair.

of oppositely disposed ears serving as a mounting for one of. a seriesof crossbeams 34.

A downwardly inclined magazine 35 (Figs. 1 and 5), for holding the tubesto be fed into the machine,'is provided with similar side walls 36 thatare secured to. the crossbeanlgfliin any well-known manner. The bottomof themagazine consists of a pair of spaced flat plates 38 (Fig. 5)which are se cured to the cross-beam 29 by means of screws or bolts 39,which extend upwardly through the cross-beam and into the under sides ofthe plates. The plates 38 terminate in ends 40 which are in proximity tothe panarms of scales to be described hereinafter.

' For receiving the tubes which have been weighed and sorted, there isprovided a series of outwardly and downwardly inclined, similarcompartments 41, hereinafter called grade-compartments. The bottom ofeach of these compartments is formed by a pair of spaced flat plates 42,which are secured to-the cross-beams 34 by upwardly directed screws orbolts 43. The inner ends of theseplates terminate ilrtapered edges 44,which normal; ly contact with the extremities of the adjoining scales inthe machine proper, and the outer ends of these plates (not shown) areprovided with any suitable detents for retaining the tubes in thegrade-compartments A series of similar guideways 45, arranged inalternately opposite directions, are provided between the successivestages of the machine. Each of these guideways 45 comprises a pair ofspaced, correspondingly located, and downwardly curved bars 46 which areseupon which the tubes are supported during the weighing operation.

I have found it preferable to so space the scales 56 from each other onthe fulcrumshaft 50 that when a tube is weighed thereon the distancebetween each end of the tube and its respective. supporting scale willbe substantially equal to one quarter of the total length of the tubing.This locates the center of gravity of the tube at a point substanweightto overbalance it. This will result in a sorting'out 'of the tubes intheir downward passage in the order of increasing weight, such tubesasare of suflicient weight to overbalance all the scales being deliveredto the .cured to the cross-beams 34 by bolts 0L bOtlJOm g adempartment(Fig. 1).

screws 47. v L

Supportedby each cross-beam 32, 1s a pa1r of spaced angle-irons 48, onwhich are mounted a pair of suspension plates 49 in which rest the knifeedges 52 of a fulcrum shaft 50. The

latter is generally of circular cross-section, exce t for two integral,spaced, wedge-shaped portions 51 whichform the knife edges 52,

these sections being equidistant from the ends 57 01" the shaft. Theends 57 are pointed and contact very lightly with abutments 53 (Figs. 3andl5) to prevent longitudinal displacement of the shaft. 4 i

The knife edges 52 of the wedge-shaped portions 51 rest in V-shapednotches in the plates 49, as shown in Fig. 4, the sides of thesenotches diverging at a sufficient angle to permitthe desired rocking ofthe shaft 56 therein.

At spaced points along each fulcrum shaft 50, between the wedge-shapedsections 51, are mounted a air of similar beam scales 56 (Figs. 3 and 5;the direction of which pair of scales is alternately rever sed in eachsucceeding stage of the machine as shown in Fig. 1. The weight settingof the scales may be accomplished by integral weight incorpo-' ration,the provision of a longitudinally adjustable collar "of determined weiht, or any other well-known means, and int e particular embodimentherein described I have found it preferable to permanently incorporatethe desired .weights in the-weight ends 58 of a number ofscales,,relying on substitution of an entire beam to provide the weightsetting desired. The tube receiving end 59v of each scale 56, referredto as the pan-end, slopes downwardly, and terminates in a notch 60(Figs. 5 and 6) the side walls of which incline downwardly and outwardlyfrom the center, to provide a thin blade-like edge ,62,

Forcooperation with each of the scales the individual gradingmechanisms. These are duplicated in'each stage of the machine exce t thelast, but are arranged to operate in a ternately reversed directions inthe successive stages (Fig. 1).

As shown in Figs. 3 and 5, a pair of right and left, hand dischargers 63are keyed to shaft 16 and each discharger consists of a pair ofduplicate blades 67., 68, a thin lug 65 being provided on each blade forcooperation with the scales as described hereinafter. The dischargersare mounted in close proximity to the pan-ends 59 of the scales so that,when rotated, they will strike against the projectand eject it intoeither the grade-'compartment or the guideway. Also keyed to shaft 16,and on the side of each discharger nearest the center of the machine isa stabilizer 64 to support the scale beam during the loading operation.The stabilizers 64 and the lugs 65 may bemade integral with thedischargers or may be attached thereto in any well-known manner in whichevent the stabllizers constitute a hub-like reinforcement for theirrespective dischargers.

Thespecific construction, arrangement, and operation of dischargers andscales is best shown in Figs. 6'and 7, which show a discharger 63 withone of its blades 68 in operating relationship with the scale 56." Onthe side of the pan-end 59 of the scale beam 56 whichad'joins the innerface of the discharger 63 there is provided a substantiallytriangular-sha'pedprojection 69 whose bottom face 7 O is slightly curvedand forms a substantial continuation of the bottom of the pan-end 59.The upper surface 71 of this projection'is a a suflicient extent tocontact with the projection 69, but not sufliciently to touch the wallof the scale beam proper (Fig. 3). v To eliminate misleading andincorrect in dications of the weight of a tube, resulting from loadingmomentum and motion of the tube on the scales, stabilizer 64 holds thescale against depression until the tube has come to rest thereon. Thestabilizer 64 is positioned in radially spaced relation to the 'cientlythereafter to-assure the tubes having come to rest. The relative lengthsof these contacting surfaces will be such that there will be cOntinuoussupporting contact during the maximum eriod of activity on the scalesprior to the tu s coming to rest. When the, stabilizer is rotated out ofcontact with the scale, the latter is liberated'for weighing andcharging means.

The action and relation of arts at the panend of the-scales, 'ust descried for the first stage of the machine,- is exactly the same in thesucceeding stages, with the exception of the last or bottom stage, whichdiffers from the subsequent action of the selective 'disthe. recedingstages in the omission of the weig ing mechanism (see Fig. 1).

Although I have previously described both of the e'ectors 63 in eachstage as being pro-' vided wlth a pair of lugs .65, it will be appar entthat these lugs may be omitted from one of such ejectors in each stage.Since both scales are secured to a common fulcrum shaft 50, andboth-dischargers are secured toa common shaft 16,-the action of one ofthe setsof discharger andscale mechanisms will be correspondinglyreproduced in the other setin the same stage of the machine, and acblocks 78. The upp'er ends of these blocks are provided with threadedpins 79 which support adjustable collars 81 (Figs. 1 and 2), to 'limitdownward movement of the escapement blocks bycontact with the crossbeam76. .Mounted on the outer surface of the escapement blocks, andprojecting therebelow, are stops 82 to limit the discharge of tubes fromthe magazine 35.

Mounting blocks 84 are secured to the points slightly beyond the endsof'the' plates 38 1 1 and 3). Adjustable detents 85,- provid withelongated U-shape'd reces ses 86, are bolted on said mounting blocks 84directly over the scale beams (Figs. 2 and 3). Addltional adjustablede'tents 87 are mounted on each of the cross beams 32 over the otherscale beams.

A pair of spaced brackets 88, provided with slideways 89 for a pair ofreciprocating cut-. off members 90, are mounted on the upper.

cross-beam '32 in alignment with the escapement blocks7 8. Each member90 has a projection 91 which is linked to one of a pair of spacedbell-crank levers 92 which are fixedly secured to the rock shaft 31 foractuation by. a pair of cams v93 fixedly secured'on cam shaft 30 (Figs.2 and. 5).

Each setof cam, bell crank lever, and as sociated mechanisms is aduplicate of ,the other, hence, a description of one will suflice. Asshown inFigs. 1 and 2, the rotation of cam shaft 30 actuates thebell-crank lever 92, and hence the feed regulatin members 90, 78, 82,through the contact 0 cam 93 with a roller 94, on one arm of thebell-crank lever, a coil spring 95 holding the roller against the cam.Fig. 1 shows the cam in the posiidler 97 on a stub shaft 98, which idleralso meshes with gear 22 on shaft 17. Since the discharger 63 is doublebladed, and is therefore adapted to discharge two tubes during eachrevolution, the cam 93 should make two revolutions for each revolutionofthe discharger in order to supply two tubes, and the gears areaccordingly given a two to one ratio. v

The operation of the machine is as follows, it being understood. thatthe operations described are performed in duplicate at both ends Qf thetubes 'as will be evident from an inspection of Figs. 3 and 5, and alsothat,

if desired, only one of the dischargers need be providedl'with the lugs65, as hereinbefore noted. p p

With the partsin the osition'shown in Fig. 1, and a number of tu essupplied to the magazine 35, the tubes will roll down the incline untilthe foremost one reaches the cutoflmember 90, as indicated/at T, Fig. 1I

(shown in dotted lines Fig. 3).

Rotation of cam 93 to the position: shown in Fig. 2 retracts the cut-off90, b the action of spring 95 on bell-crank;. 92, a lowing the foremosttube to Teach stop 82 and occupy position T' Further rotation of cam 93,to the position shown in Fig. I, will elevate cut-ofi 90, thusinterposing it between the foremost tube and those behind it, raisinescapement block 78 and releasing this tu to position T, in which it isheld by the to edge of rotating discharger blade 67 and etent 85.-

As the discharger blade 67 is rotating to the-position shown in Fig. 2,stabilizer 64 .will rotate into-the position in which it supports scale56,- .and when the parts have reached the position of Fig. 2 the tubewill have advanced onto the scale 56 and will be coming to rest in notch60, position T. At

this time the discharge of other tubes from the magazine will beprevented by the lower.- in of stop 82.

In the further operation of the machine the stabilizer 64 will rotateclear of the scale, and weighing of the tube will take place prior tothe advancement of the other discharger blade 68 into the operativeposition shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

If the tube on the scale is of insufficient v ofi the scale (positionT") onto the guideway 45.

It will be noted that the forward end of lug 65 tapers to a fine edge,as does also the rear end ofprojction 69, and these features, as well asthe particular fulcrum shaft support, provide a delicate selection thatwill result in extreme accuracy in grading to the extent that even theexceedingly slight depression of the scale initiated by a ve slightlyoverweight tubev will be translated into a depression of sufiicientmagnitude to permit dischar e of the tube" onto the guideway 45, as inFig. 7.

After being discharged onto the guideway 45 the tube Wlll follow themoving dlscharger blade 68in the position T Fig. 2. Upon furtherrotation of the blade the tube will roll down the lower end of guideway45 to position T, Fig. 1, .where further advancement is restrained bydetent 87 and the top of the discharger'b'lade in the second stage ofthe machine, in the same manner as described in relation to position TThese operations are repeated until each tube has reached its propergrade-compartment. From the above description it will be apparent thatmy grading machine possesses many inherent advantages which result inin-- creased operative efiicienc The vertically spection andmaintenance. The rotary action throughout the machine also conservesspace, is peculiarly advantageous in combination with the verticallystaggered arrangement due to the horizontal and vertical action in theselective discharging o ration, and produces less jarring action t andischarging or conveyin mechanismshaving straight line motion. Thearrangement and structure-of the specificradihg mechanism provides anextremely deficate grading selection without sacrificing the ruggednesses sential for successful commercial operation.

While-I have herein disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, Ido not-desire to be limited to the specific details of arrangement andconstruction described, except as indicated by-the following claims.

I claim:

. 1. In an assorting machine, the combination of a pluralityof-vertically-spaced scales set for progressively increasing weights,guideways between said scales, a plurality of grade-compartments, andmeans for delivering each article weighed to one of thegrade-compartments. Y

2. In an assorting machine, the combination of a plurality of spacedscales arranged in the same vertical plane and set for differentweights, connecting guideways between said scales, grade-compartmentsassociated with said scales, and means to positively direct each articleto acompartment or to a guideway. k

'3. In an assorting machine, the combination of a beam scale set for apredetermined weight, a guideway leading away from "said scale, areceiving compartment normally forming a continuation of the pan-end ofsaid scale, means for discharging weighed articles from said scale, andmeans operating in conjunction with said discharging means forpositively holding said pan-end in feeding relation to said receivingcompartment or in feeding relation to said guideway.

4. In an assorting machine, the combination of a plurality of scales setfor different weights, grade-compartments cooperating with said scalesfor receiving articles of equal or less weight than the weight-settingof their respective scales, guideways for conducting to successivescales articles of greater weight than the weight-setting of theirrespective scales, and means operable in conjunction. with the pan-endsof said scales for delivering articles weighed thereon to the respectivecompartments or guideways.

5. In an assorting machine, the combina- 35 ing weighed articles 40sition initiated by the weight of an article.

, discharging means charging operation according to tary discharger forsaid scale.

I 6. In an assorting machine, the combinat1on of a plurality of scalesarranged in vertical relat-ion and set for different weights, a guidewayleading from each scale for receiving articles which over-balance saidscale and dehvering them to a'lower part of the machine, agrade-compartment leading from each scale for receiving articles whichdo not overbalance sa1d scale,' and means operating in conjunction withsaid scales for directing said articles to said guideways or to saidcompartments.

7. In an assorting machine, the combinaa0 tionof a plurality of scalesset for predetermined wei hts, a guideway leading from each scale orreceiving articles which overbalance said scale and delivering them to alower part of the machine, a grade-compartment'leading from each scalefor receiving articles which do not overbalance said scale, means fordischarging weighed articles from said scales, and means mounteddirectly on the scales and cooperating with the discharging means duringthe discharging operation for facilitating the discharging action tosaid guideway or to said compartment.

8." In an assorting machine, the combination of a beam scale, means fordischargtherefrom, means for stabilizing said scale prior to eachweighing operation, and means on the discharging means for engaging thepan-end ofsaid scale for maintaining the scale in the relative po- 9. Inan assorting mac ine, the combination of a scale beam mounted on astationary pivot, meansufor discharging weighed a rticles therefrom,meansconnected with sa1d discharging means and operating in advancethereof for stabilizing said scale prior to each weighing operation, andmeans mounted on the discharging means and cooperatin with said scale ormaintainmg the scale n the .relative position initiated by the weight ofan article. I I 1 10. In an assorting machine, the combmation of amovable scale beam, a plurality of spaced surfaces on said scale beam,article mounted for movement in a plane parallel to the seal beam, andmeans carri by the discharging means for cooperat' w 1th"one or theotherof said surfaces during the d1sthe relative position initiated by theweight of an article thereon. I I I '.11. In an assortingmachine, thecombmation of a scale, means .for stabilizing sa1d scale during theloadingof articles thereon,

the plane of movement of" means for discharging theweighed articlestherefrom, and a common rotatable support I on which said stabilizingmeans and said discharging means are mounted. 4

12. In an assorting machine,,the combination of a scale including amovable beam, means for stabilizing said scale beam during the loadingof articles thereon, means movable in a plane parallel with the plane ofmovement of the scale beamfor discharging the weighed articlestherefrom, and means mounted on the discharging means and-coopcratingwith said scale to maintain said scale during the discharging operationin the relative position initiated by theweight of an article thereon.

13. In an assorting machine, the combination of a plurality ofbeamscales setfor guideways connecting said scales, each guide- I theopposite direction from the one directl above it, and rotatabledischarging mem rs cooperating with each scale for directing articlesweighed thereon to said grade-compartments or to said guide- .Wayleading in ways.

15. In an assorting machine, the combination of a fulcrum shaft, aplurality of, scale beams mounted in spaced relation thereon forsimultaneous operation, means movable in a planeparallel with the planeof movement of the scale beams for discharging weighed articles fromsaid scale beams, and means associated with said discharging means andwith one of said scale beams for maintaining said scales depressed orundepressed, according to the weight of the article thereon. I

16. In an assorting machine, the combina tion of a fulcrum shaft, aplurality of scales mounted in spaced relation thereon for simultaneousoperation, a grade-compartment. as-

sociated with said scales, a guideway leading I compartment forreceiving articles of the same or less weight than that for which thescale is set, a guidewayfor receiving articles of greater weight, andmeans for maintaining the weighing end of said scale in continuity withsaid grade-compartment during the deliver thereto of articles ofappropriate weig t. k 18. In an assortin machine, the combination' of ascale, a loading platform adjoining 10 said scale, and means fordischarging weighed articles from said scale, said last mentioned meansbeing so positioned with respect to the loading platform that it willprevent loading said scale durin the discharging movement of thedischarging means.

19. In an assorting machine, the combination with a scale, of means forloading articles thereon, and means for discharging 1 articlestherefrom, said last named means preventing the loading of the scaleduring its discharging movement. p 20. An assorting machine whichincludes a plurality of scales set for progressively increasing weights,guideways: between the scales to receive articles which tip v thescales, a grade compartment associated witheach scale, and means fordeliverin each article which fails to tip a scale into t e oorrespondinggrade compartment. DAVID E. GRAY.

